Comfort scents for Uncomfortable Times

I almost made a mistake and started reading what other participating blogs wrote but stopped myself just in time. I don’t want my thoughts to be influenced by interesting things I am bound to read there. 🙂

So, on to my ideas for this post. When I got the email, my first thoughts went to my winter scents and which of them I find comforting (since the idea is to welcome spring by saying good-bye to the winter). I’ve been giving this some thought over the last few days and I realized several things.

First, the last 6 months were really difficult all over the world, and for me as well. The other things is that even though we all probably need comfort all through the year, it seems to me it is needed the most during dark winter months when there is no sun to be seen and no warmth to be found outside of our homes (at the moment I am elated to see and smell the spring outside my wide open window). 🙂

And then the last thing I came up with was the fact that I have three categories of comfort scents (I only just now realized that it’s not 2 which I started writing but is actually 3).

The first and easiest category is comfort scents that are no brainers. They aren’t complicated, might not last long but feel more like putting on your favourite cotton underwear.

One of those that always works for me, during the whole year is Jo Malone’s Nutmeg and Ginger. It has spices that make it right. It’s my round the year comfort wear.

The other two categories are much more interesting though.

This winter I went through a phase of discovering DSH line. There is still much left to be discovered but since it was winter, and I was going through a spices phase, I tried several of her creations and fell in love with quite a few. What I loved about Cimabue, Piment and Chocolat, and Gingembre is that when I smell them I am reminded of childhood freedom and smell of warmth and I feel happiness radiating around me.

Then, I discovered Back to Black, By Kilian. Which if you considered the name might not sound like a very comforting scent but to me it feels like I’m cocooned in my favourite blanket reading something and a cup of hot wine on the table beside me (there is no wine in it, it just gets me to this place).

One other comforting winter scent for me is New Harleem by Bond no.9. It is a perfect combination of comforting and energizing and can be used as a really good pick-me-up during the winter. I gave some to my boyfriend and I can tell when he puts it on – not often but also when he is in a need for some happy thoughts.

I could talk more about some of the scents I wore this winter that enveloped me in comfort (like, Santal Blanc which not only gives comfort but strength to face the world as well) but while reading my winter notes, I realized many of the scents I really enjoy during those months are those that have a boozy-warm feeling to them (I don’t want to delve deeper into why a boozy aroma seems to calm me). 😉 But those that fit into that category are Lucifer Sin by Damien Bash, Ambre Russe by Parfum d’Empire and Spiriteuese Double Vanille (which I only have a sample of but would love more).

In the end, there is my third category and it’s a very special one. Those are scents (for the time being only two) that are not so comforting per se but are actually scents that lift the weight off your shoulders and make you breathe easier (for me, they also help clear my thoughts and ideas). A lot of work for a scent to do. A big thank you for those achievements to Timbuktu and Sandalo Inspiritu by DSH.

That’s all from me, now please visit other participating blogs and enjoy the coming spring. 🙂

“This article’s title is an homage to Michelyn Camen’s original article of this same name on Sniffapalooza Magazine in 2008, in which interviewed several perfumers to comment on what botanical elements make their perfumes comforting.

Michelyn Camen is the Publisher and Editor in Chief of www.cafleurebon.com and the Editor-at- Large for www.Fashiontribes.com. She is a formerly an Editor for Fragrantica, the Fragrance Editor for Uptown Social, a Senior Contributor for Sniffapalooza Magazine, the New in Niche Columnist forBasenotes, the Managing Director for BeautynewsNYC and the former publicist for www.luckyscent.com and Scent Bar, Los Angeles. She has been awarded Brandweek Magazine Marketer of the Year, Ad Age Magazine 100 and is a two time recipient of License Magazine’s 40 under 40 and recipient. She slipped off her corporate power suit to pursue her passion for fragrance.”

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10 thoughts on “Comfort scents for Uncomfortable Times”

Ines…I, too, had to remind myself to finish my writing before seeing what other writer-thinkers had to say about our assignment. It's interesting how you, too, thought about types of comfort…in a different way, with an entirely different selection of perfumes! I love it. :)I see you are making your way through a number of DSH offerings; I have found comfort there myself, though I didn't mention one that I really like (Celadon) in my post. There are SO many offerings in Dawn's collection…I can understand how a creative person just keeps 'em coming…but it is a challenge even for an enthusiast to keep up with her line alone! Happy work, though, that. Hmmm…I need to learn more about this Lucifer Sin you mention…

ScentScelf, yes, Dawn is very creative but I don't think I'll be ever able to get through all of her creations. I tend to get lost in all the choices at her site. :)I haven't tried Celadon but now that you said you love it, it's going to be on my next DSH order.There are so many gifted natural perfumers out there and lately I find myself wanting to discover more and more what their creativity is bringing forth.Thank you for stopping by. 🙂

Loved reading your thoughts and so agree that while spring is rampant outside it's hard to think of end of winter thoughts. Love many of your choices (Santal Blanc, some DSH) and agree that Back to Black is misnamed: what's black about that? 🙂

Helg, I agree completely. The only way I can imagine Back to Black being appropriate name is when you go back to your black comfortable cashmeere sweater. And that only works if it's black. :)Even though it was a bit difficult remembering winter comfort, this really seemed like an appropriate way to let the spring come into our lives.

Yum yum yum…Back to Black! I came to it with low-to-no expectations, fully satisfied that Serge Luntens Chergui would be my go-to winter comfort scent. Well, suh-priiiizzzzeee, B2B did its honey-tobacco-fruity-sexy thang and made me her own.

it's interesting that reading other people's blogs has made me re think some of what I wrote and re- enforced other things I thought I found comforting. I agree Timbuktu would be to me as would gourmands- though I don't really wear them I use vanilla/ chocolate candles and i love cooking smells generally- as we all do I'm sure! there is something about knowing food is on the way and the warmth of goodness of baking especially

He, he. 🙂 B2B is a surprise of a different kind than expected I think. Instead of being dangerous (what I initially thought), it turned into a comfort scent for so many. Sexy you say? Hm, I didn't try it out on my boyfriend yet – some experimenting is due then. ;)Thank you for stopping by.

Rose, you know, when there are several participating blogs, it is a wondrous thing how many perspectives you get and each is valid and interesting. I loved reading different approaches and now have new things to try as comforting next winter. 🙂